Quality of life measured with a generic instrument (Short Form-36) improves following pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with COPD

Study objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a 3-week comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation program on quality of life as measured by the Short Form-36 (SF-36) in patients with COPD. Design and setting: We report on the outcomes of 37 consecutive patients re ferred for pulmonary rehabilitation at a respiratory specialty medical cent er. Patients: Thirty-seven patients (mean age, 66 years) with COPD and severe a irflow limitation (mean +/- SE FEV1, 29.6 +/- 1.8% of predicted) were studi ed. Interventions: Rehabilitation consisted of a 3-week pulmonary rehabilitatio n program incorporating 12 exercise sessions, each of which included bicycl e ergometer exercise training, upper-extremity training, strength training, and stretching, along with psychosocial counseling and education, Measurements and results: The Health Status Index (SF-36) and 6-min walk te st were completed before and after rehabilitation. There was an improvement in five of the nine quality-of-life subscales of the SF-36 following pulmo nary rehabilitation. Although there was an improvement in functional capaci ty as measured by the 6-min walk, there was no correlation between improvem ent in duality of life and improvement in functional capacity. There was no correlation between FEV1 and improvement in walk distance, but there was a correlation between FEV1 and improvement in SF-36 physical function and en ergy/fatigue subscales. Conclusion: Health-related quality of life assessed by the SF-36, a general measure of quality of life, improves following an intensive 3-week pulmona ry rehabilitation program. Use of the SF-36 allows comparison of the result s of pulmonary rehabilitation to therapeutic interventions in patients with other medical disorders.